Republicans have launched a ballot initiative targeting the income tax and welfare. WMTW News 8'S Paul Merrill discusses the process ahead and responses from both Democrats and Republicans.

Republicans have launched a ballot initiative targeting the income tax and welfare. WMTW News 8'S Paul Merrill discusses the process ahead and responses from both Democrats and Republicans.

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Updated: 7:51 AM EDT Sep 24, 2015

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WEBVTT A BALLOT INITIATIVE WILL TAKETIME AND MONEY AWAY FROM EFFORTSTO GET REPUBLICANS ELECTED TOTHE LEGISLATURE.DURING THE PAST SESSION,GOVERNOR LEPAGE AND OTHERREPUBLICANS TRIED TO LOWERMAINE'S INCOME TAX RATES BUTWERE NOT ABLE TO.NOW, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY ISTRYING A DIFFERENT APPROACH.CHAIRMAN RICK BENNETT FILEDPAPERWORK THIS AFTERNOON TO PUTA BALLOT QUESTION IN FRONT OFVOTERS NEXT NOVEMBER.THIS AIMS TO SHRINK THE INCOMETAX RATE TO 4% BY 2021 AND PUTRESTRICTIONS ON WELFARERECIPIENTS.SOME WONDER IF THE TIME ANDMONEY FOR THIS INITIATIVE WILLDETRACT FROM EFFORTS TO GETREPUBLICANS ELECTED.I THINK THE OPPOSITE.THERE IS TREMENDOUS ENERGY THATGOES BEYOND THE REPUBLICAN PARTYTO GET MEANINGFUL POLICY DONE.THIS BROAD-BASED SUPPORT WILLDRAW PEOPLE MORE TO THE REFORMAGENDA.PAUL: WE TOOK THE SAME QUESTIONTO GOVERNOR LEPAGE.I THINK IT WILL HURTREPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, ANDINDEPENDENCE IF THEY IGNORE IT.PAUL: THE GOVERNOR IS MAKING ITHIS MISSION TO REDUCE INCOME TAXNO MATTER WHAT.I WAS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLETO MAKE A BETTER STATE, MOREPROSPEROUS STATE.I DO NOT CARE WHAT IT DOES.I AM HERE TO HELP THE MAINEPEOPLE.PAUL: HERE IS A RESPONSE FROMPHILIP BARTLETT ABOUT THE GOPCITIZENS INITIATIVE.THE SOME SOMATIC -- SYSTEMATICATTACKS HAVE DEEPENED POVERTY.THEIR TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHYHAVE LEFT EVERYDAY MAINERSBEHIND.IT IS TIME FOR THE GOP TOTRADING GIMMICKS FOR SUBSTANTIVEPOLICY AND BUILD OUR WORKFORCE.REPUBLICANS HAVE BETWEEN NOW ANDFEBRUARY 1 TO COLLECT THE 62,000

Republicans launch ballot initiative targeting income tax, welfare

Republicans have launched a ballot initiative targeting the income tax and welfare. WMTW News 8'S Paul Merrill discusses the process ahead and responses from both Democrats and Republicans.